Saturday, October 29, 2011

The hulking biker stood before a federal judge, his thick forearms crossed behind him and turned up just enough to reveal a hint of tattoos with ominous messages such as "GFOD" — God Forgives, Outlaws Don't.
This is also stamped on Mark Polchan's arm: "1%er," which law enforcement officers say is a boast that Polchan is among the 1 percent of bikers who live a criminal lifestyle.
On Friday, a federal judge sentenced the reputed officer of the Outlaws motorcycle gang to 60 years in federal prison.

Prosecutors said Polchan was part of a reputed Outfit crew that resorted to stabbings, shootings and even a pipe-bomb attack to protect its illegal gambling and robbery operations.
U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman called Polchan's actions nothing short of "terrorizing to the rest of us."
Polchan's attorney, Damon Cheronis, argued for a 35-year sentence, the minimum possible for a bombing in Berwyn in 2003, saying that was long enough for the married father of three to send a message of deterrence.
Guzman disagreed, saying the violence spawned by Polchan and the crew required an even stronger signal to anyone who might think of trying something similar.
Last December a federal jury convicted Polchan, 44, as well as reputed mob boss Michael "The Large Guy" Sarno and three others of running a lucrative illegal video poker racket, pulling off a string of armed robberies and planting a pipe bomb in front of a rival business cutting into their gambling turf.
Prosecutors allege the ring netted more than $1.2 million in jewelry that was then fenced at a Cicero pawn shop owned by Polchan. Polchan also helped authorize the robberies, prosecutors said.
Polchan was paid to plan the bombing outside C & S Coin Operated Amusements, a video poker business targeted by Sarno to protect his illegal gaming operations. No one was injured, but the late-night blast blew out windows and caused extensive damage.
Sarno faces sentencing next month.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu, who prosecuted the case, said Polchan's pawn shop was the "epicenter" of the crew's criminal schemes. Authorities bugged the shop, hiding three microphones and a video camera there.
Bhachu said Polchan showed a complete disregard for the law, referring to officers as "… suckers."
"That's what his attitude is about federal law enforcement and the law," the prosecutor said.
Guzman noted Polchan's upbringing — by all appearances a positive one — as well as the countless letters of support he received on his behalf.
"He was not abandoned. He was not abused. He was not mistreated," Guzman said. "Why we find ourselves here today is really difficult to comprehend."
Polchan, whose family sat stone-faced in the courtroom, offered little insight. He shook his head often during the sentencing and when Guzman invited him to speak, he said he was "overwhelmed" by what he had heard and declined to deliver his prepared remarks.
"I can't do it," he said.